Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing, it belongs to Bandai, Sotsu and associated parties. I just borrow the guys from time to time and return them a whole lot happier. I do own the plot and any other characters, especially the equines, that you will find in this fic. Please do not take them without permission. Written for pleasure not profit.
Pairing: 2x1x2, 3x4, 13x6, H+C
Warnings: Yaoi, lemon, sap, angst, vet themes, AU
Rating: NC 17
Archive: gundam-wing-diaries. foreverfandom. net and gundam-wing-diaries. 150m. com. Anyone else please ask.
Betaed by Karina *snugs*
Summary: Set 2 years after Equus and Heero is doing so well in his own business that he's taken June on as a working pupil. The qualifying shows for the International teams are well underway and it looks like it will be a good year for Heero, his pupils and horses... until Mother Nature steps in.
AN: This fic, although a complete work of fiction is based partially on fact. I will add notes at the end of chapters where necessary to clarify events and provide links where needed.
Dedication: To Leslie and Karina. Leslie for giving me the original idea for Equinity and encouraging and supporting me through the writing of all the fics thus far in the arc. And Karina for not just taking over as my much needed beta, (poor woman needs a medal!), but for also poking and prodding Fred until he went on strike, refusing to work on anything at all until I let him start this. Needless to say, we managed to come to a compromise... Fred gets to write a chapter of this one week... the next week he has to write a chapter of 'Bound'... Did I ever tell you all I hate my muse? :-)
Fic 5 in the Equine Intervention Arc.
Commenced December 2013 – ShenLong
"Rival Riders"
Chapter 9
Leaving Wing in the capable hands of June, Heero and Duo headed back to the goose-neck to fetch Shini. The stallion was resting a hind leg and dozing. His ears soon pricked up though when he heard his master's footsteps and he gave a low wuffle.
Whilst Heero put the bridle on, Duo removed Shini's light rug and tightened the girth. A quick check of Shini's jumping boots and the pair were set to go. Heero took the stallion off to a side area to loosen him up a little more whilst Duo went back to the collecting ring to see where they were up to in the order and relieve June of Wing.
By the time Heero returned to the ring they were up to the eighth rider with two clear rounds to date, three if you counted Wing's clear. Having let the steward know he was there, Heero stood to the side with Duo and Wing to watch the ninth rider on course, the previous rider having scored eight faults which put them out of the ribbon contention.
The chestnut on course seemed to be going well until they made the turn from seven to eight and the horse appeared to lose its footing for a stride. It made a valiant effort but brought the top pole down which meant four penalties.
"What happened there?" Duo asked with a frown. The horse and rider seemed to be going well to him.
"The rider was going a touch too fast for the turn," Heero replied.
"Ah, thanks." Duo gave his partner a warm smile of appreciation.
The pair finished the rest of their round with no further penalties and it seemed a shame to Duo that they'd made that one mistake as otherwise their round was faultless.
"Do your best Shini," Duo said to the gray as he slipped him a carrot. "Be safe, Heero."
"I will." Heero leaned down a touch and mouthed, 'I love you' before he collected his reins and rode the gray into the arena.
Calls of good luck from the rest of the group followed him in and then it was just himself, his horse and the jumps ahead.
Saluting the judge, Heero turned Shini and pushed the gray into a slow canter. The bell rang, Heero sat deeper and collected Shini up, the gray giving a snort and pulling slightly. They passed between the start flags and began their course.
The first jump was cleared in Shini's usual style, the stallion giving a small buck when he landed. He was happy to be out and competing and that was the only way he knew how to express his joy.
"Settle down you big lump, there's lots more jumps to come yet and you'll need all your energy to get over them," Heero chastised, but his tone held amusement in it.
Having gotten the tickle out of his hooves, Shini thought he'd better listen to his master and get on with the job at hand.
Jump two was cleared and jump three appeared directly ahead of them. Shini lengthened out his stride, picked his take off point and soared into the air. Landing safely on the other side he shortened his stride and made the turn to the left that his master was asking him to.
The hedge lay ahead of them, Shini eying it up and gauging the height of the fence. He lengthened out, took the three strides and sailed into the air again. Forelegs extended out and took the weight of the stallion as gravity pulled him back to earth.
Once his horse had all four feet back on the ground, Heero dropped his weight and collected the stallion up. The triple was the next jump and Heero really needed to have as much impulsion in Shini's hind quarters as he could possibly get.
"Ah, crap. Here comes the tough one," Duo muttered and absently chewed his fingernail.
Wing could sense the tension coming off the normally happy human and yet he couldn't discern anything at all to be worried about. Maybe the nice human needed a distraction? Wing gave the vet a gentle nudge with his muzzle.
With the gentle nudge to his person, Duo dropped his finger from his mouth to look into a pair of brown, liquid eyes. "Wing?" he questioned and petted the gray muzzle. "What's up, boy?"
Wing gave another gentle nudge followed by rubbing his face against the nice human's arm.
Slipping a hand into his pocket, Duo pulled out a carrot for the youngster and fed it to him. "There you are. Good boy." With Wing crunching on the carrot, Duo turned his attention back to the pair in the ring.
Wing crunched up the carrot, feeling quite pleased with himself. Not only was the nice human not radiating quite so much tension any more, but he'd scored a carrot out of it too! He'd have to remember this trick.
"Steady, Shini, the triple is next and it's a tough one," Heero muttered to his horse.
Cocking back a gray ear, Shini took note of the tone of voice his master used and the signals he was getting from his master's weight, legs and hands. He steadied his pace and pushed his hocks deeper under his body, building the energy levels until he was ready to explode.
Keeping his horse in check, Heero gradually rode him forward until three strides away from the first element of the triple. Heero came forward in his seat, eased off on the reins a touch and Shini bounded forward.
The pair soared over the first part and landed safely. Heero sat down and used his legs to push Shini together, the second element rushing to meet them. Shini took the two strides and launched into the air again. Despite the height and width of the jump, Shini managed to clear it easily. Once Shini had landed, Heero pushed his horse together for the last part. Hocks came deep under the belly and pushed the horse up and into the air, forelegs tucked up against the chest and Shinigami sailed cleanly over the last element.
"Good boy," Heero praised and gave a quick pat to the gray neck.
"Thank heavens for that," Duo sighed, a little of the tension bleeding out of him.
"I think we should look at getting you some false nails," June commented with a grin and looked pointedly to Duo's mouth where he was currently chewing on a fingernail.
"Ah, old habit," Duo defended and tucked his hand inside his pocket. "As for false nails; I don't think so." Duo shuddered at the thought.
"I would have thought you'd be quite the seasoned groom by now," June teased. "After all, you've been with Heero to so many shows."
Turning to look at the woman, Duo raised an eyebrow. "It doesn't matter how many shows I go to with Heero, I'm always nervous for him. I can't help it. On a side note though, at least I save a fortune on manicures."
Carl exploded in laughter.
With the triple behind them Heero concentrated on the next jump, the rails. They were an easy enough jump in themselves, but if he relaxed now he would be in trouble for the oxer that followed. Keeping a steady contact with Shini's mouth, Heero rode for jump six.
They cleared the rails easily, the oxer following seconds after and Shini gave a snort. Up ahead was jump eight – hay bales.
Knowing all about Shini's obsession with jumping hay bales, Heero made certain to have a firm contact with the stallion's mouth and used his legs hard to keep the forward momentum.
Shini snorted. That was some delicious looking hay under those poles. Surely he could stop for just a quick mouthful?
Feeling the stallion starting to slow a little, Heero had a pretty good idea of what was going through Shini's mind. "Oh no you don't," he muttered and drove his legs hard against Shini's flanks.
The stallion grunted and tossed his head. He wanted a bite of that hay!
"It's a jump, Shini and you are going to jump it," Heero growled and gave the gray a small kick.
Shini abruptly changed his mind and jumped the hay bales.
"What is he doing?" June questioned.
"Shini doesn't like jumping hay bales, he prefers to eat them," Duo replied with a grin. "It's a quirk he's had all his life."
"Didn't anyone tell him that there's no pit stops allowed?"
Duo chose to ignore that remark and focused back on the arena and his lover who had now cleared the hay bales and were fast approaching the parallel bars.
Still a little disgruntled over having to jump the hay and having his master kick him, Shini settled down and put his mind back on the job of jumping the remaining fences. If he was good his master and that other nice human might have some of those orange treats for him.
The parallel bars were cleared and Shini made a right hand turn to jump ten; the planks. They were similarly cleared, Shini listening carefully to his master and doing everything he was asked. He really didn't want another kick.
"He's almost home," Carl stated.
"So far he's clear too," June added.
"Good job as I don't think Heero would live it down if Wing went clear and Shini didn't," Duo muttered.
Another right turn saw the pair approaching the hogs back. Shini lined the jump up, gauged the height and picked his take off point. Once more those powerful hind quarters pushed the gray body up and into the air. The jump passed beneath the gray belly before forelegs unfurled to take the weight of the horse as it landed.
The wall was the last fence, Heero shortening his reins a touch and dropping his weight back down. The stallion responded, shortening his frame and steadying as they approached. Concentration completely on the last jump, Heero waited until they were at their take off point and went forward with his horse. The reins slid a little through his fingers, hands sliding up the neck to follow the movement of his horse. Taking his weight on his knees and ankles, Heero was almost completely out of the saddle to try ad give his horse as much help as he could.
The bricks all stayed where they belonged and once Shini had all four feet on the ground, Heero guided him towards the finish flags and allowed the stallion to stretch out and gallop.
"Clear round for Heero Yuy riding Shinigami," came the announcement.
"Good boy." Heero rained pats down on the sweaty neck and slowly brought his horse back to a steady canter and then trot. He passed the eleventh rider and wished the man good luck, accepting the congratulations on his own round with a polite, 'Thank you'.
Once he was in the collecting ring, Heero rode straight across to where Duo was standing with Wing and their other friends. As soon as he brought the gray to a halt everyone was congratulating him on his clear round and Shini was snuffling Duo's person for the carrots he knew would be hiding there.
June offered to hold Wing, leaving Duo free to attend to Shini. The girth was loosened a couple of holes and stirrups run up, Duo finally getting the chance to congratulate his husband.
"That was a great round, Heero."
"Thanks, but it was Shini more than me."
Duo fed the stallion another carrot. "You do realize that you have both horses in the jump off," he snickered.
"Hai, I do and it will be an interesting jump off too."
"I take it you're planning on going the long way with Wing and taking the short cuts with Shini?" Duo said, cocking his head to the side.
"Got it in one. Wing isn't as experienced as Shini and whilst I don't think he would have too much trouble taking the short cuts I'd rather give him extra room and build his confidence. There will be time enough for short cuts as he gains more experience."
"Makes sense to me." Duo looked thoughtful for a moment. "How did Shini feel to you when you were out there?" Seeing a worried look spark in Heero's blue eyes, Duo was quick to clarify his words. "There's nothing wrong, what I meant was do you think you will enter Shini in the A grade Championships at the Nations Cup week?"
With Duo having cleared that up, Heero relaxed a little. "He was traveling very well, keen and eager to jump. He doesn't appear to have lost any of his ability or will to win since the Olympics and if he goes as well in the jump off then yes, I think I will enter him for the A grade Championship." Gazing at his partner, Heero's brows furrowed together when he noted the look of deep thought on Duo's face. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Duo replied.
"There's something bothering you, I can tell." Heero wasn't too sure what could be distracting his partner so much.
"I was just thinking. If we're taking Nataku and Orion to the Nations Cup and now Shinigami for the Championships that we may need to do a little shopping."
"Shopping?" Heero asked, clearly confused now.
"Yeah, shopping. I don't think we're gonna have enough spares for the spares."
"Duo!"
The vet just laughed.
#
"Still the same?" Duo asked as Heero walked back out of the ring and took Wing's reins from him.
"Hai. Just the heights and widths have increased a little." Holding his stirrup, Heero mounted the gray and settled himself into the saddle. "I'm not taking any chances with Wing, we're going the long way with him."
"You're the boss and know best," Duo grinned.
There were a total of five clear rounds in the A grade event and Wing would be the first to go in the jump off. Wing would be followed by a chestnut then a bay, Shini and the last horse to have competed - another bay. Where Wing would end up in the placings didn't bother Heero at all. He was just over the moon with the youngster. Having made it to his first jump off in A grade competition was more than enough for Heero. Shini on the other hand...
Heero was quietly confident that the older stallion would be able to give the others something to chase.
The arena was cleared of competitors and Heero took a few minutes to loosen Wing up. The steward began to call for all the riders in the jump off to present themselves. Making his way to the arena entry, he brought Wing to a halt beside Duo and Shini.
"I'll have Shini all ready for you when you've finished with Wing," Duo promised.
"That's fine, Duo. No rush."
"Take it easy out there, no risking your neck."
"I'll be careful," Heero replied softly.
"Good luck." Duo gave the younger gray a few pats to his neck before rubbing the stallion between the eyes. "Take care of your master, Wing."
The gray blew softly through his nostrils and rubbed his nose against the nice human's chest.
"Heero Yuy? You're in," the steward said.
Gathering his reins up, Heero nudged Wing forward and entered the ring. Calls of good luck followed him before Heero let it all fade away until there was only him and his horse and the jumps ahead.
Having saluted the judge, Heero pushed Wing into a steady canter and rode for the start flags. The bell went and Heero turned his horse towards those flags, passing between them and starting their jump off course.
Jump one was cleared easily and followed by a sweeping turn to the right. Wing cocked an ear back and listened carefully to the signals he was getting from his master.
"Nice and steady, Wing. We're not out to break any records, just go clear if we can."
The gray lined up the oxer ahead, picked his take off point and launched into the air. They showed a clean pair of heels over the jump and once Wing was back on the turf again, Heero sat deep and rode the gray together. They made a left turn, passing on the outside of jump twelve and coming into the triple. The three elements lay ahead and given the longer track Heero had taken, Wing came into the first element beautifully balanced and on the right stride.
They soared over the first part, Heero using his seat and leg to re-balance his horse. Wing took the two strides and pushed off the ground again. Hind quarters propelled the body into the air, poles passing beneath a gray belly before Wing was reaching with his forelegs for the landing. One more stride and those hind quarters were straining once again with the effort of pushing the horse and its rider up and over the jump. Wing reached for the extra width, managing to clear the element and land safely.
"Good boy, nice and steady," Duo muttered to himself. At least he wasn't chewing his fingernails this time. With holding onto Shini, Duo really couldn't spare a hand to bring to his mouth to chew on.
The triple had taken a bit out of Wing and Heero did his best to ride the horse together and give him a little extra room to try and regain some of the energy he'd expended. They took the longer track around jump six before making a left turn to come into jump eleven.
The hogs back was also a testing jump, having the height and width to it. Driving Wing's hocks well underneath him, Heero rode with determination at the jump. Wing responded well, soaring into the air and clearing the fence. "Good boy, Wing. One more to go and we're home."
Wing tossed his head. He was feeling tired but gamely plodded on.
The wall rose up before them, Wing putting in a huge effort and managing to leave all the bricks in place. Once his horse was back on the ground, Heero urged him forward and through the finish flags.
"Clear round for Heero Yuy riding Wing Zero in a time of 42:16," the commentator announced.
Heero patted the gray neck and praised his horse as he rode towards the exit. He was over the moon with the effort Wing had put in and hoped Duo had some carrots for the stallion.
Heero should have known better. Immediately he rode into the collecting ring, Duo was there with the carrots, stuffing Wing with as many as the youngster could fit into his mouth.
"That was a great round, Heero. He was wonderful," Duo said, petting the gray.
"Yes, he was and I'm really proud of him," Heero replied as he dismounted.
"Congratulations, Heero," June said as she appeared beside her boss and mentor. "Here, give him to me and I'll take care of him whilst you get yourself sorted out with Shini."
"Thanks, June," Heero replied and handed over the gray's reins to the woman.
"Terrific round, Heero," Carl congratulated.
"Thanks," Heero replied with a blush to his cheeks. He'd given up on protesting that it wasn't him but the horse; it didn't make any difference so why bother?
"Shini's all ready for you, Heero."
Duo's voice brought Heero from his musings and he turned around to take the reins from his husband. "Thanks."
"You're welcome," Duo replied with a smile.
"I'll just loosen him up a little as I'll be needed in a few minutes." Heero turned the gray around and rode over to a spot just outside the collecting ring where he could warm up the older gray but still be within hearing distance of the steward.
The chestnut was currently in the ring and it was obvious that the rider was out to win. Unlike Heero on Wing, this combination took the risks and the short cuts, coming out of the ring with a clear round and a time of 36:41.
"Clear round for Jack Smith on Sentinel in a time of 36:41. Ladies and gentlemen, this is our current leader."
As the chestnut exited, the bay entered. Duo went to take charge of Wing but June insisted she would look after the youngster and leave Duo free to help Heero out if necessary. Duo appreciated the gesture and let the woman know. June just shook her head and smiled at the vet.
The bay started out fast, the rider with a determined look on their face. Even to Duo's inexperienced eye he could tell they were headed for disaster if they kept that sort of speed up. Duo had learned quite a lot from Heero over the years and whilst he would never be an 'expert' in the field of showjumping, he now had a lot more knowledge of the sport than he'd ever thought possible.
Having finished loosening Shini up, Heero rode back into the collecting ring and brought the gray to a halt beside the vet. His eyes cast about the arena and watched the bay intently.
"I don't think he's going to go clear if he doesn't slow down," Duo commented.
"Quite right, Duo," Heero agreed, eyes tracking the pair on course.
The bay's rider cleared jump seven and cut on the inside of jump twelve. Once past the jump he asked his horse for a tight turn to bring them into the triple but the horse was traveling too fast and although he made the turn, he came into the first element all wrong and had no option but to refuse.
"Serves him right for pushing too much," Heero muttered. Duo raised an eyebrow in his lover's direction, Heero just shrugged. He wasn't about to apologize for his thoughts when the man clearly deserved what he got for pushing the horse too fast and asking for an impossible turn.
The rider turned his horse and rode at the jump again. This time the horse had more time to get itself together and they cleared all three elements. The final two fences were also cleared and the pair left the arena to a smattering of applause.
"Four faults and a time of 52:24 for George Leech riding Have A Go."
"I'm next," Heero said softly and gathered his reins up.
"Good luck and stay safe," Duo said softly. Giving Shini a pat to the nose Duo stepped back out of the way.
"I'll do my best," Heero replied and gave Duo that special smile.
"Knock them dead, Heero," June grinned.
"Best of luck," Carl said.
Heero gave his cheer squad a nod and rode the gray into the ring. Shini felt fresh and responsive beneath him, eager to be off and do what he loved to do. That alone gave Heero more confidence. Whilst Wing was a damn good jumper, would probably be even better than Shini and was yet to reach his prime, there was something comfortable and familiar about the older stallion. Heero knew he could ask a lot from Shini and the stallion would deliver for him, they had that special bond between them and Heero was immensely proud of the gray. Zero would always hold top spot in Heero's heart as far as the equines went, but Shini was a damn close second!
Having saluted the judge, Heero collected his horse up and rode for the start flags, the familiar stride beneath him and the jumps ahead gave Heero a feeling of complete and utter joy. This was the ultimate adrenalin rush – for him at least.
The bell went and the pair began their course.
Shini easily cleared jump one and made the right hand turn to jump seven. Heero sat down a little to collect his horse up as they approached the oxer. He intended to cut on the inside of jump twelve once they had cleared seven and would need Shini's full attention, not to mention having the stallion full of impulsion if they were to make the turn and go on to clear the triple that followed.
The gray listened carefully, picked his takeoff point and soared into the air. As soon as his hooves were back on the turf, Heero dropped his weight and brought the stallion back to hand as quickly as he could. They cut inside jump twelve, Heero riding the gray forward for a few strides before asking for a sharp, left turn. Dropping his hind quarters, Shini spun his body around, dug deep with his back hooves and pushed himself forward once more. Part A of the triple loomed ahead, Shini sizing it up and knowing what effort he would need to put in to clear it.
"Fuck that was a tight turn," Duo exclaimed and almost swallowed the end of his braid that he happened to be chewing on.
"Damn tight," June agreed. "Duo, you'll get split ends."
With a sheepish smile, Duo pulled the end of his braid away from his mouth where it was currently heading back to.
Giving a soft grunt, Shini pushed off the ground and sailed over part A. Landing, his master was there, riding him together for part B. Two strides and the gray was once more airborne, legs tucked up close to the body and leaving all the poles in their cups. Landing, Shini took one stride and drove his hocks deep under himself, shoving his body away from the ground and defying gravity once more.
"Beautifully ridden," Carl commented.
Duo didn't say anything, he currently had the tuft of his braid back in his mouth.
Marie stepped up close to Duo, put her hand on the vet's arm and gently pulled the braid from his mouth. "You have such lovely hair, Duo, it's a shame to ruin it," she said with a smile.
Duo nodded, let the braid go and gnawed on a thumb nail instead.
Once Shini was safely over the triple, Heero sat down hard, used his seat and legs to drive the gray together and shortened up his frame. They ducked inside jump six, took three strides and turned. Once more Shini pivoted on his hind legs, swinging his frame around and then surging forward. Four strides and they were in the air again over jump eleven. Landing, Shini's ears were pricked as he looked for the next jump.
"Last one, boy," Heero said, taking a firm hold on the reins and re-balancing the horse. They made a right turn and came into the wall dead center. Shinigami bounded up to the jump, drew his hind legs under and pushed off into the air. He sailed over the top of the bricks, front hooves biting deep into the turf as he landed. Feeling his master's hold on the bit ease and the encouragement from his master's legs and voice, Shini flattened out and whizzed through the finish flags.
"Clear round for Heero Yuy riding Shinigami in a time of 34:15. We have a new leader!"
tbc...